Alfred Tumushabe
28 December 2007
Kanungu — THE Congolese army has apologised for the December 12 incident at Kasenyi in Kanungu where two Congolese soldiers raped two Ugandan girls.
This was during the meeting of security officials from two countries held on December 21 in Ishasha Kinkiizi in Kanungu.
Major Lean Kirimunda of the Congolese army led the 13 person Congolese delegation while the Ugandan delegation including local leaders from Kanungu and Kisoro was led by Capt. Medi Kajubi of the UPDF.
The rape incident prompted the UPDF to intervene, kill one soldier who was among the rapists and injure the other.
"On the rape incident, Maj Lean apologised on behalf of the Congolese army. He said the soldier deserved death for the criminal act,"Lt Kiconco Tabaaro, the Second Division army publicist told Daily Monitor after the meeting. He said the meeting discussed some of the criminal incidents that happen along the Congo boarder with Uganda in Kanungu and Kisoro districts.
They resolved that Congolese military officials should promote discipline among its officers, share information on armed dissidents against Uganda in DRC and stop harassing Ugandans who cross to DR Congo.
Meanwhile, a joint verification team comprising intelligence officers from the UPDF and the Congolese army are analysing criminal incidences that have been directed to Uganda from DRC in the districts of Kanungu and Kisoro.
Lt Kiconco said, "They will make recommendations to either militaries [Uganda and Congo] which will consequently enable the two parties to move swiftly towards the realisation and protection of the human rights of individuals along the common boarder."
The recommendations, he said, will stimulate each party to administer disciplinary measures to the perpetrators of criminality most especially Congolese soldiers who have always forced their way into Uganda to either rob, rape or kill.
The team comprised of Congolse; Maj Zepheriene Lwamba, Maj Kothso Biroso and Lt Kerie Kayimbi, while Capt Barnabas Mugongo represents Uganda.
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